Chasing the Herd: Discover the Serengeti’s Great Migration Safari

10-Day Serengeti Wildebeest River Crossing Expedition

DESTINATION

Tanznania: Tarangire N.P, Serengeti N.p & Ngongoro Creater

DURATION

10 Days
Door-to-door

DESTINATION

Tanznania: Tarangire N.P, Serengeti N.p & Ngongoro Creater

DURATION

10 Days
Door-to-door

Overview

This unforgettable itinerary is expertly designed to follow the path of the legendary Great Migration—one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on Earth. Spend four immersive nights in the Serengeti, where you'll explore its sweeping plains and witness the thrilling river crossings that define this iconic season. Between August and October, the northern Serengeti becomes a front-row seat to nature’s raw drama, as massive herds of wildebeest and zebras risk crocodile-infested waters in their relentless pursuit of greener pastures.

Day 1: Welcome to Arusha

📍 Distance: 55km | 🚗 1-Hour Drive

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a Silence of Nature Africa representative will greet you and transfer you to your accommodation 🏨.

Day 2: Journey from Arusha to Tarangire National Park

📍 Distance: 120 km | 🚗 2-Hour Drive

Start your day with a private pick-up from your accommodation in Arusha by your expert safari guide. Enjoy a scenic drive along a well-maintained tarmac road through the picturesque Masai plains, where you'll pass Maasai people in their vibrant traditional dress, herding cattle, riding bicycles, and driving donkey carts.

Upon arrival at Tarangire National Park, one of Tanzania’s most renowned wildlife destinations, you’ll embark on a thrilling game drive. Famous for its large elephant herds, Tarangire also boasts a wealth of other wildlife, including zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, giraffes, and more. As you travel through the park’s diverse landscapes—seasonal swamps, expansive savanna, and the Tarangire River—you'll have the chance to spot predators like lions stalking prey or leopards lounging in trees.

Day 3: Discover the Wildlife of Central Serengeti (Seronera)

📍 Distance: 300 km | 🚗 Drive Time: Approx. 5-6 Hours

After breakfast, continue your journey towards the fertile highlands, home to the Iraqw people, known for cultivating wheat and corn. As you travel, pass through the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you may spot baboons, elephants, or even leopards in the dense undergrowth.

🏨 Overnight stay at your accommodation, where you can unwind and reflect on your day’s safari adventures

Day 4: North Serengeti Safari

📍 Distance: 100 km | 🚗 Approx. 3-4 Hours Drive

In the morning, embark on a thrilling en route game drive as we journey towards the Northern Serengeti, a region known for its rolling hills, small rivers, and iconic kopjes like Lobo Kopje. This area, less frequented by tourists, offers a quieter safari experience and is home to a diverse, permanent population of wildlife.

🏨 Overnight stay in a luxury lodge or tented camp, surrounded by the stunning Serengeti wilderness

Day 5: Explore North Serengeti

📍 Distance: Varies (within North Serengeti) | 🚗 Game Drive Duration: Full Day

After an early breakfast, head out for a full day of adventure in North Serengeti. You’ll have the chance to witness one of the most dramatic spectacles of the Great Migration—the Mara River crossings. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather on the riverbanks, hesitant to cross the turbulent water in front of them, their eyes fixed on the lush grazing grass on the other side.

🏨 Overnight stay in a luxury lodge or tented camp, surrounded by the stunning Serengeti wilderness

Day 6: Explore Central Serengeti

📍 Distance: Varies (within North Serengeti) | 🚗 Game Drive Duration: Full Day

After an early breakfast, embark on an exciting day in North Serengeti. This is your chance to witness one of the most iconic events of the Great Migration—the Mara River crossings. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather on the riverbanks, hesitant to cross the turbulent water but eager to reach the lush grass on the other side.

🏨 Overnight stay in a luxury tented camp or lodge in North Serengeti, surrounded by the incredible sights and sounds of the wilderness.

Day 7: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

📍 Distance: Varies (within North Serengeti) | 🚗 Game Drive Duration: Full Day

After an early breakfast, embark on a thrilling game drive in North Serengeti, where you have a chance to witness the Great Migration's most iconic spectacle—the Mara River crossings. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather on the riverbanks, hesitant to make the perilous crossing.

🏨 Overnight stay in a luxury tented camp or lodge, offering the perfect setting for reflecting on the day’s safari adventures

Day 8: Explore the Ngorongoro Crater

📍 Distance: 45 km (Crater Rim to Floor & onward to Karatu) | 🚗 Drive Time: Approx. 1-2 Hours

Very early in the morning, after breakfast, descend 610 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most breathtaking wildlife destinations on Earth. This massive volcanic caldera, formed over three million years ago, spans 260 square kilometers and is home to a self-contained ecosystem with abundant wildlife.

✅ Explore the Ngorongoro Crater floor, an enclosed habitat supporting over 25,000 animals
✅ Enjoy unmatched sightings of the Big Five—lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, and leopards
✅ Spot other incredible wildlife like wildebeest, gazelles, zebras, reedbuck, and over 500 bird species
✅ Learn about the geological history of the crater and its cultural connection to the Maasai, whose cowbells inspired the name "Ngorongoro"
✅ Stop for a picnic lunch near the scenic hippo pool, surrounded by breathtaking crater views
✅ In the afternoon, ascend the crater wall and continue to the town of Karatu

🏨 Overnight stay in a comfortable lodge in Karatu, a peaceful highland town near the crater rim

Day 9: Lake Manyara Safari & Return to Arusha

📍 Distance: 130 km | 🚗 Drive Time: Approx. 2–3 Hours

After breakfast, depart for your final safari destination—Lake Manyara National Park, a compact yet incredibly diverse park located 120 km west of Arusha. Named after the shallow alkaline lake that dominates much of its surface, the park is renowned for its rich wildlife and scenic variety.

✅ Explore the shores of Lake Manyara, home to thousands of flamingos and over 500 species of birds
✅ Encounter a wide range of wildlife including elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and various monkey species
✅ Keep an eye out for the park’s famous tree-climbing lions, often seen lounging in acacia branches
✅ Discover the park’s varied ecosystems—lush groundwater forests, open grassy plains, and baobab-studded cliffs

🍽️ After lunch, begin your return journey to Arusha, arriving by late afternoon
🏨 Optional day room in Arusha or evening transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Day 10: Onward Travel – Farewell from Tanzania

📍 Distance: 55 km (to Kilimanjaro International Airport) | 🚗 Drive Time: Approx. 1 Hour

After breakfast or depending on your flight schedule, you will be picked up from your accommodation by a Silence of Nature Africa representative and transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your onward journey.

Includes:

- Park fees
- All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water(On all days)
- Roundtrip airport transfer